Customers Return To Boylston Street Businesses After Marathon Bombings
BOSTON (CBS) - On its first full night back in business, Boylston Street was bustling. Wednesday night, people gathered at the memorial on Copley Plaza and packed local businesses.
A group of friends met at the Charlesmark Hotel for their own tribute. They sat on the outdoor patio in the same seats where they were when the explosions happened just feet away.
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"Getting past that emotional scar of what happened. For me, I feel a sense of relief to be sitting here again," said Doug Julian who still has hearing issues from the blast.
The week long closure cost restaurants hundreds of thousand of dollars. But by Thursday evening outdoor patios and restaurants were full of customers. Some said they were there to help businesses recover.
"I know these people pretty well," said Dennis Dow as he sipped a beer outside Sola's. "So I figure I might as well come down, help them out a little bit, just show some support."
"We had people come in this afternoon that came in all over the South Shore, Western Mass, that came in to spend money on Boylston Street," said Brendan Griffin who is the general manager at Sola's and City Table.
Some businesses are still trying to get back on their feet. Abe and Louie's hopes to open by Saturday. In the meantime, they've kept paying their workers.
"The president said look this is the right thing to do, let's keep paying our people," said general manager Tim Fannin.
Marathon Sports, the site of one of the blasts, is not yet open. But, people left flowers and candles out front.
The sign on their brand new window says it all about a neighborhood determined to recover, Boston Strong.
"I think it'll be a lot less time than you'd think," said Griffin.
